Google: Engagement with social networks expanded
With yet another acquisition, Google is strengthening its presence in the social networking space. The company is acquiring the Canadian startup Social Deck, which develops online games. The companies did not disclose the purchase price.
According to media reports, Google is planning its own platform to compete with Facebook, which with its more than 500 million users has become a serious competitor in the advertising business. The booming online games are to play a central role in this. Social Deck offers games such as "Shake & Spell" and "Pet Hero", which are primarily aimed at casual gamers. Users can access them from multimedia cell phones such as the iPhone and various Blackberry models as well as via the Facebook social network. The company, which was founded in 2008, uses its own technology for the cross-platform development of games. In recent months, Google has acquired a number of smaller companies that offer services related to social networks and online games. The search engine giant has also acquired a stake in Zynga ("Farmville").
